Page 142 of Stains of Desire
"I'm getting to it. But I want to point out you also told the president where Jonas's farms were, so he could start adding surveillance on his cartel."
"So what? I can do whatever I want. I'm the most powerful man on earth."
You cocky son of a bitch.
"Not for long."
Louis's jaw twitches. "And why is that?"
"The president and prime minister have recently been at Jonas's compound."
His expression stays the same, minus the color draining from his face.
I lean closer. "Jonas, the president, and prime minister all want to take you and Santiago out."
"Why would they want to take me out? I make things happen for them."
I shake my head. "All these years I thought you were smart."
He points at me. "Watch your tone."
I grunt. "You put surveillance on Jonas's cartel so you can take it over and eliminate his cut."
"So? I did the same thing with all the cartels."
"Yeah, but Jonas's cartel is becoming the biggest profit center right now, isn't it?"
"So what?"
I ignore answering him. "You eliminate Jonas and get his cut. The U.S. President and U.K. Prime Minister eliminate you and get your cut. See how this works?"
Silence thickens the air. I work hard not to flinch.
"You have to do something," Gustave says.
Louis gets up, walks to the window, and stares out for several moments with his arms folded across his chest. "That's why you're here? The money is your bounty?"
"No. The money is for informing you. My bounty on Jonas and his brother, Evandro, is ten million each. The U.K. Prime Minister is fifty. The U.S. President is one hundred."
"That's not what we agreed on," Gustave growls.
"Tough shit. My price just went up."
Louis spins. "I should kill you for your greed."
Spoken from the greediest man on earth.
"But you won't. You can't hire just anyone for this. The person who kills them, they need my skills. And this conversation can never leave this room. You know it, and I know it."
Gustave gets up and pours him and Louis two fingers of Scotch. He hands it to him, and they talk in French.
"English or I'm raising my price," I say.
"Take Jonas and Evandro out, Gustave. Start the plan to take over his cartel."
"Got it."
They clink glasses and down their drinks.
